The Curragh

At present, there seems to be no limit to the collective achievements of Aidan O'Brien's 2-year-olds and in particular the fillies in that category and it was the Niarchos colour-bearer Dreamy (Ire) (American Pharoah--Tapestry {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) who provided further strength in depth in Saturday's G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes at The Curragh. Off the mark on debut at the Goodwood Festival last month, the daughter of the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine was placed behind the leading pair early by Ryan Moore. Cajoled to the front a furlong...

Odds of 2-11 in The Curragh's opening maiden on Saturday said it all about the regard in which Acapulco Bay (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Je Ne Regretterien {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) is held at Ballydoyle and the blueblood duly delivered while appearing to do the bare minimum to make it TDN Rising Star number 43 for his illustrious sire. Such an eye-catcher when closing from behind to be second to the stable's fellow TDN Rising Star Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) over seven furlongs here three weeks ago, the relative of Magic Wand...

Benefitting from the ideal pace set-up in Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's G2 Railway Stakes winner Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) swooped to defy a penalty and continue his perfect record under Ryan Moore. Settled in third early with the pace generously provided by Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the 5-6 favourite surged by the G3 Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) a furlong out en route to a length...

Saturday's action sees the winding-up of York's Ebor Festival and a trio of exciting juvenile races at The Curragh and Goodwood, with the Knavesmire venue boasting the most valuable prize in the G2 City of York Stakes. Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) is the star attraction in the seven-furlong feature and it is fair to say that he has turned around his fortunes this term with dynamic successes in the G1 Lockinge Stakes and G2 Lennox Stakes. He may have achieved more when winning under...

Getting back on the winning trail in the G3 Royal Whip Stakes at The Curragh on Saturday, Ballydoyle's G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}--Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) served notice that he is ready for some serious autumn action with options open. Badly needing his reintroduction when fifth in a strong renewal of Royal Ascot's G2 Hardwicke Stakes in June, the 4-7 favourite shadowed the leader Trustyourinstinct (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) before edging ahead three out and forging a workmanlike half-length success under Ryan Moore in a fast...

A total of 20 jockeys have been confirmed for the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race at the Curragh on Saturday, Aug. 31. Part of the Pat Smullen Race Day in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland, the race, supported by the Breeze-Up Consigners Association and Smullen's son Paddy, is just one of the events and activities that will raise funds for the leading cancer research trials organisation in Ireland. The riders, who have to raise a minimum of €3,000 for the charity, will ride over the world famous 12...

As a heralded and unbeaten member of the dominant 2-year-old fillies' division entering Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh, Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}--Pavlosk, by Arch) was always going to be a force to be reckoned with and in the event she was too much for Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) to handle in the first major clash of the sexes in this age group. Surrendering a length and a half from the gates to the Ballydoyle representative, the Ger Lyons-trained G3 Anglesey Stakes winner...

  The Curragh's American Racing Channel Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race is always a race worth intense scrutiny and Saturday's renewal did not disappoint with Coolmore dominating the finish and their prized homebred Falling Snow (Ire) (Justify--Winter {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) edging it to become the second TDN Rising Star on the card. Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for this seven-furlong conditions event won in the recent past by Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and in which Opera Singer (Justify) was runner-up to A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire})...

World Pool will be part of the G1 Irish St Leger Day at the Curragh on Sept. 15 for the first time, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced on Thursday. It is one of three race meetings the globally commingled pools will be active at across the world that weekend, joining G1 Irish Champions Day on Sept. 14 and Makybe Diva Stakes Day at Flemington in Australia earlier that same day. With this addition, the entire Irish Champions Weekend will be part of the World Pool for the first...

Juddmonte's Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Red Impression {GB}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) had already shown that she is a top-drawer prospect with impressive late fractions on her seven-furlong Curragh debut last month and merely confirmed that with another scintillating performance to become her sire's 42nd TDN Rising Star on Sunday. Narrowly denied by Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) when storming home late on her racecourse bow, the Ger Lyons-trained homebred was sent straight to the lead this time by Colin Keane. Never in any danger with...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a returning daughter of Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 13.40 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BALLET SLIPPERS (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a hot prospect in the card's opener, being the first foal out of the multiple Group 1-winning Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her debut in...

Gaining TDN Rising Star status with a five-length debut success over six furlongs at Cork last month, Juddmonte's Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) squares up against the boys in Sunday's G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes at The Curragh. Ger Lyons tests her against another TDN Rising Star in Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was down the field along with Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in the G2 Coventry Stakes. Beaten under two lengths at Royal Ascot, Stonestreet Stables, Tracy Farmer and John Oxley's Cowardofthecounty had previously...